Ex-Councillor Remanded Over Alleged Sssault, Attempted Culpable Homicide in Benue

A former councillor has been ordered into custody by an Otukpo court over allegations that he broke into a woman's compound, beat her and pushed her into a fire.

Daniel Ujah, who once represented Awume-Icho Ward in Ohimini Local Government Area, appeared before the Upper Area Court 2 in Otukpo, where the Nigeria Police arraigned him on charges including criminal trespass, intimidation, criminal force and assault, causing grievous hurt, and attempted culpable homicide.

The case stems from a petition filed by Rebecca Adole at the Area Commander's Office in Otukpo, detailing an attack on her mother, Amina Iduh, at Akwutulo, Awume, on August 28, 2026.

According to the First Information Report, marked CR33/2026 and released on Thursday, Adole told police: ‘On 31 August, 2026, at about 1600 hours, through petition, one Rebecca Adole 'F' of No. 27 Pipeline Rasaki Avenue, Eupi, Otukpo, came to the Area Commander's Office, the Nigeria Police, Otukpo, and reported that on 28 August, 2026, at about 1530 hours.’

She said she learned of the attack through a relative's phone call.

‘While she was at home, suddenly, she received a phone call from her uncle's son, named Isaac Iduh, that when her mother, by name Amina Iduh, returned from the farm, one David Uja 'M' of Akwutulo, Awume, criminally trespassed into her mother's compound, gave her several beatings, and pushed her into a fire, and she sustained injury on her bottom,’ the FIR stated.

The document went on to describe the aftermath: "Her clothes got burnt, and her mother was taken to the hospital by the police in Onyagede, Ohimini LGA, where she is receiving treatment."

Police also allege that Ujah threatened to kill the woman, boasting that no one could stop him.

When the matter came up for mention on Wednesday, Ujah pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

His counsel, Rev. O. Simon, standing in for P.O. Ella, applied for bail, but the prosecuting counsel, Inspector Nancy Alechenu, opposed the application.

Presiding Magistrate Hasia Garuba ordered that Ujah be remanded at the Otukpo Correctional Centre pending further proceedings and adjourned the case to September 22, 2026, for further mention.